Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the world’s most high-profile music events, erupted in controversy after the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap delivered a vulgar, anti-Israel display during their weekend set. The band projected the message “F— Israel, Free Palestine” in bold letters across the Sonora tent stage, alongside accusations of genocide and U.S. complicity through military aid. The performance stunned both attendees and organizers.
Kneecap escalated tensions by posting the footage online, encouraging young Americans to share the video with President Donald Trump while using a vulgar insult to refer to him. The move added political weight to an already incendiary message and highlighted growing concerns over the politicization of entertainment platforms. The group’s social media post tagged high-profile figures, pushing the message beyond the festival grounds.
Goldenvoice, the festival’s promoter, was not informed about the band’s planned display and was reportedly “blindsided.” CEO Paul Tollett faced intense backlash following the performance, particularly from Jewish advocacy groups and festivalgoers who condemned the display as antisemitic. Music executive Scooter Braun came to Tollett’s defense, noting his previous support for the victims of Hamas’ 2023 terror attack on Israel’s Nova Music Festival.
Organizations such as the Creative Community for Peace have called out Kneecap for their blatantly antisemitic rhetoric. CCFP executive director Ari Inge stated: “Festivals such as Coachella are meant to bring people together to celebrate music and life, instead they allowed the festival to devolve into a forum of hate – platforming a band that praised a terrorist group that carried out the largest massacre in music history. At a time of record levels of antisemitism, it is outrageous that AEG and Goldenvoice allowed this to happen.”
Kneecap has remained defiant, defending its political messaging and continuing to promote the performance online. The situation has prompted broader discussions about the need for music festivals to set clear boundaries regarding speech and conduct, particularly when it may promote divisive or hateful ideologies under the guise of artistic expression.
